The men cursed Torode volubly, and regretted that he had not gone with Black Boy.
And it was none but black looks that greeted him when, after standing a moment, he came on across the Coupee and joined the rest.
"It is a misfortune," he said brusquely, as he came among us.
"It is sheer murder and brutality," said Charles Vaudin roughly.
"Guyabble! It's you that ought to be down there, not yon poor brute," said Guerin.
"Tuts then! A horse! I'll make him good to Hamon." "And, unless I'm mistaken, you promised him not to ride the Coupee," I said angrily, for I knew how George Hamon would feel about Black Boy.
"Diable! I believe I did, but I forgot all about it in seeing you others crawling across.

Will you lend me your horse to ride back, Carre?
Mademoiselle rides home with me." "Mademoiselle does not, and I won't lend you a hair of him." "That was the understanding.

Mademoiselle promised." "Well, she will break her promise,--with better reason than you had.

I shall see her safely home." "Right, Phil! Stick to that!" said the others; and Torode looking round felt himself in a very small minority, and turned sulkily and walked back across the Coupee.
The pleasure of the day was broken.

Black Boy's face and scream and fall were with us still, and presently we all went cautiously back across the narrow way.